:
F
ebruary 21, 2023
HO
NORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
City of Long Beach
California
RE
COMMENDATION:
T
o continue the local emergency caused by conditions or threatened conditions of homelessness within the City of Long Beach, which if not corrected, constitute an imminent and proximate threat to the safety of persons and property within the City, and:
R
eceive and file an update on the emergency declaration and associated activities and provide any additional direction to City staff regarding the emergency. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
T
he City of Long Beach (City) has designated significant resources to address homelessness in Long Beach. Since 2020, more than 530 new interim housing units have been developed.
The City opened the first year-round Atlantic Bridge Community Shelter, secured three hotels along with the County of Los Angeles (County), and recently purchased the 78- bed Luxury Inn and more than 30 modular shelter units. The City also implemented three Restorative Engagement to Achieve Collective Health (REACH) teams, increased the number of outreach staff and call takers from 4 to 27, expanded hours for weekend outreach, began conducting localized interdepartmental response, partnered to provide mobile health care services, and doubled Police Department Quality of Life teams. In 2023, the City has implemented mobile Multi-Service Center (MSC) outreach teams, will launch a mobile mental health and substance use treatment van, and will continue to focus on mental health prevention and treatment access.
Th
e City continues to have approximately 3,300 people experiencing homelessness throughout Long Beach, which is a 77 percent increase since 2017 and a 62 percent increase from 2020 to 2022. Of these 3,300 people, approximately 2,300 are unsheltered. The City and local community-based organizations provide approximately 1,300 interim shelter beds, and most of these shelters are operating at capacity, leaving few options for those currently without shelter.
D
eclaration of the Emergency
O
n January 10, 2023, the City Council proclaimed the local emergency, in accordance with the provisions of Long Beach Municipal Code Chapter 2.69. This item will be reviewed every Office of the City Manager
411 West Ocean Boulevard, 10th Floor Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 570-6711
NB-22
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
February 21, 2023
fourteen (14) days until the City Council terminates said local emergency or amends requirements for reporting frequency. A local emergency must be terminated at the earliest possible date as the conditions warrant.
Action Taken in the Past Two Weeks
Over the past two weeks, the City emergency structure has been established and below is a summary of the major items worked on. Supporting information is included in Attachment A. • Announced Safe Parking location via referral by the Multi Service Center (MSC) for those experiencing homelessness, including restrooms, security and lighting and access to services.
• Met with LA County Supervisor Hahn to discuss Los Angeles County support of Long Beach homelessness efforts.
• Approved $13 million in one-time funds to support homelessness emergency response. • Announced second winter shelter location at Silverado Park. • Announced location that provides people experiencing homelessness and currently living in recreational vehicles (RVs) with sanitation and water-filling services. • Announced Mayoral Community Forum with local housing provi ders for February 22, 2023.
• Selected firm to design, build and install tiny homes for people experiencing homelessness.
• Shared list of resources available to community for addressing issues related to homelessness.
• Held fifth livestream update with Mayor Richardson and Police Chief Wally Hebeish. • Finalized letters in support of state and federal proposals for more homeless services and housing funding.
• Met with state legislative budget staff to review options for additional direct funding to large cities for homelessness.
• Set up meetings with LA County leadership and regional partners through the Gateway Cities COG to strategize regional engagement on the homelessness emergency. • Held meetings with regional partners such as LA County, LA M etro, and regional cities to discuss partnership opportunities to provide more resources and services for people experiencing homelessness.
• Submitted two letters of support related to legislative bills related to homelessness: SB 24 (Feinstein) would provide additional federal dollars to support local homeless services and affordable housing efforts ; and SB 91 (Umberg) would streamline indefinitely the conversion of motels into transitional and interim housing.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
February 21, 2023
• Launched Housing Authority information li ne, receiving 242 calls and sending out 137 emails in the first five days (2/10 - 2/14).
• Engaged with the County of Los Angeles on their plans for Measure H funding to expand resources for Long Beach to prevent homelessness and provide services. • Held meeting with Senator Lena Gonzalez’s office to discuss potential solutions that would make Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention funding more equitable for Long Beach.
• Continued the evaluation of properties citywide (both public and private) that could be temporarily used or acquired to further support the local emergency. • Expanded locations across the City where people can donate items for people experiencing homelessness and develop ed a website where non- profit organizations can request items.
• Continuing to design notification system for people experiencing homelessness so they are aware of when service opportunities are available.
• Launched Community Partnerships Interest Form where community members or groups can express an interest in supporting thos e experiencing homelessness , with 20 responses received from partners willing to contribute food, clothing, job training, community outreach and education and possible service sites. • Placed donation bins for items for people experiencing homelessness at al l City library locations and the Boys and Girls Club (3635 Long Beach Blvd) where donations can be dropped off during operating hours.
• Planned for next possible locations and focus areas for Mobile Access Center (MAC) and coordinated efforts, which will be finalized in the coming weeks. • Actively developing the Community Partner Roundtables with the goal being to host several citywide convenings in March 2023.
• Created the initial version of the data dashboard, tested with staff working groups a nd made recommended updates.
• Created list of potential grants/funds to pursue.
• Received new staff members including 1 Public Health Nurse, 2 Case Managers, 5 Outreach Workers.
• Began asset mapping of after-hours bed availability, mental health support and shelter resources.
Questions from January 24, 2023
At the last hearing of this item, there were several questions from the dais . Some were answered in person, and the following is a list of questions staff are working on a response to
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
February 21, 2023
and their status.
• What type of resources is the City prioritizing when discussing Measure H funding with the County?
o Response: The City is advocating that the County provide a proportional share of Measure H funding to the City to support our homelessness efforts. This could include funding for eligible Measure H programs and services (sobering centers, housing models, additional beds, etc.)
• What are stakeholder outreach plans?
o Response: The Community Engagement Working Group is one of the established working gr oups focused on engaging partners to assist people experiencing homelessness in the Long Beach community. This group is creating stakeholder outreach plans that identify potential partners who could offer programs, services, supports for people experiencing homelessness and creates a plan to reach out to them to encourage partnership and aligning of their resources and programs.
• What are the current staffing needs to support the City’s homelessness efforts? o Response: The biggest need is Public Health nurses who are a critical part of the City’s REACH and MAC team. Additionally, staffing related to case management and outreach have also been difficult to fill, but the City has been able to bring on one Public Health Nurse, two Case Managers, and five Outreach Workers in the past two-week period.
• How can we organize Safe Parking program s to be a safe space for families and undocumented individuals who need services?
o Response: A Safe Parking program will be available to anyone experiencing homelessness including families and undocumented individuals via referral from the MSC. The Safe Parking site will include outreach workers and access to services along with referrals to County family services and hotel vouchers.
Focus Areas for the Next Two Weeks
Staff will provide an oral report on February 21, 2023 on some of the areas of focus for the next two weeks. Topics will include:
• Complete improvements and bring the second Winter Shelter online. • Finalize letters to state and federal partners outlining the City’s requests for support to address the homelessness emergency.
• Launch public-facing dashboard.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
February 21, 2023
• Plan a drive thru donation drop-off event to support people experiencing homelessness. • Continue to staff up the Homeless Services Bureau to address case management and public health nursing needs.
• Engage clergy workgroup and continue implementation of the stakeholder outreach and engagement plan.
• Plan long-term schedule of locations and focus areas for Mobile Access Center. • Work to identify emergency shelter locations to be in place after winter shelter program ends.
• Continue identifying partners who will offer after -hours bed availability, mental health support and shelter resources.
• Explore implementing a change to the CDBG Security Deposit Program to now include rental assistance for households that cannot pay their rent due to emergency expenses. • Research all grants with homelessness connection that the City has received in the last several fiscal years, to identify if those grants are viable to pursue again. • Further development of the emergency response efforts through the nine identified workgroups.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Anita Lakhani and by Budget Operations and Development Officer Rhutu Amin Gharib on February 16, 2023.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on February 21, 2023, in accordance with the Long Beach Municipal Code requirements for the review of the local emergency. In order to report back every two weeks and to allow time for updates with the actions of the past two week s, the item will generally be released on the Supplemental Agenda with a presentation with the latest information provided to the City Council and community during the meeting.
FISCAL IMPACT
The full fiscal impact is unknown at this time and will be based on the work required and projects implemented to respond to the homelessness crisis. A s the Citywide strategy is developed, and funding is identified, staff will return to the City Council with fiscal impacts and requests for appropriation. This recommendation will result in significant staffing impacts beyond the normal budgeted scope of d uties and is expected to affect Citywide staffing workload and will cause priorities to shift due to this emergency. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
February 21, 2023
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER
Attachments: A – Supporting Documentation on Actions Taken in the Past Two Weeks 2/15/23, 4:21 PM Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson to Host Community Forum with Local Housing Providers https://longbeach.gov/press-releases/long-beach-mayor-rex-richardson-to-host-community-forum-with-local-housing-providers/ 1/2
PRESS RELEASE
City of Long Beach
Public Information Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd,
Long Beach, CA 90802
Press Release # 021523-4
2/15/2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Long Beach, CA – As part of the City of Long Beach’s mission to reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach by increasing housing opportunities, enhancing current initiatives and addressing and improving overall public safety for the entire community, Mayor Rex Richardson will host a community forum with local housing providers where he will share details about the City’s monetary incentives to encourage new owners, landlords and other housing providers to lease up with people assisted through the Housing Authority’s Choice Voucher and Emergency Housing Voucher programs. Local housing providers are encouraged to attend the meeting to learn about these incentives and engage in meaningful discussions to aid in the City’s efforts to combat homelessness.
"Our local housing providers play an integral role in connecting people who are experiencing homelessness with a secure place to call home,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “We hope this meeting will encourage new housing providers to participate in one of our offered voucher programs so that more of our residents who are unhoused can find stable permanent housing.” The meeting will take place at the City’s Housing Authority building (1500 Hughes Way Suite A-150) from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Mayor Richardson and Housing Authority staff will present information on existing monetary incentives – including direct payments to landlords – as well as enhancements to City services that benefit housing providers, among other housing provider resources. Registration is required to attend. To register, Long Beach housing providers can call 562.570.5372 or submit an
online registration.
More information about the City’s Housing Authority is available at visit longbeach.gov/haclb.
For more information on the City’s efforts to reduce homelessness in Long Beach, people may visit longbeach.gov/homelessness and follow @lbhealthdept and @longbeachcity on social media and Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson to Host Community Forum with Local Housing Providers City of Long Beach Joint Information Center
562.570.NEWS
[email protected]
Select Language
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Attachment A
2/15/23, 4:21 PM Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson to Host Community Forum with Local Housing Providers https://longbeach.gov/press-releases/long-beach-mayor-rex-richardson-to-host-community-forum-with-local-housing-providers/ 2/2 follow the hashtag #EveryoneHomeLB.
For more news, pictures, videos and announcements of what’s happening in Long Beach, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Memorandum
Date: February 15, 2023
To: Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Thomas B. Modica, City Manager
Subject: Letter to Long Beach Transit regarding the Homelessness Emergency As part of the City of Long Beach’s (City) emergency actions on homelessness, the City has sent the attached letter to Long Beach Transit requesting their partnership in addressing the homelessness emergency in Long Beach. A key barrier to housing and services for people experiencing homelessness is a dearth of transportation options. The location of resources across the city can make it difficult for people experiencing homelessness to get to the Multi -Service Center, winter shelter, and other critical services.
The City’s letter to Long Beach Transit asks that they identify innovative ways to support the City’s emergency efforts by identifying ways to eliminate these transportation gaps, specifically by expanding d ial-a-lift transportation options for people experiencing homelessness to access services and shelter.
As a follow-up to the City’s request, the City has asked to meet with staff at Long Beach Transit to identify ways to establish and fund this program. We will continue to provide updates on this request.
ATTACHMENT
CC: D AWN MCINTOSH, CITY ATTORNEY
DOUGLAS P. HAUBERT, CITY PROSECUTOR
LAURA L. DOUD, CITY AUDITOR
LINDA F. TATUM, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
TERESA CHANDLER, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER
KATY NOMURA, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER
APRIL WALKER, ADMINISTRATIVE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER
KEVIN LEE, CHIEF PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER
MONIQUE DE LA GARZA, CITY CLERK
DEPARTMENT HEADS
Office of the City Manager
411 West Ocean Boulevard, 10th Floor Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 570-6711 FAX (562) 570-7650
January 30, 2023
Kenneth McDonald
President and CEO
Long Beach Transit
1963 E. Anaheim St.
Long Beach, CA 90813
RE: Partnership to Address the Homelessness Emergency in Long Beach
Dear Mr. McDonald,
On January 10, 2023, the City of Long Beach declared an emergency on homelessness, and we request your support and partnership in addressing the homelessness emergency in Long Beach.
The City has designated significant resources to address homelessness, adding more than 530 new interim housing units, opening the first year-round bridge housing facility, securing three hotels along with the County for interim housing, and purchasing another 78-bed hotel and more than 30 modular shelter units.
The City implemented three Restorative Engagement to Achieve Collective Health (REACH) teams, increasing the number of outreach staff and call takers from four to 27, and expanding hours for weekend outreach. We are also launching mobile Multi-Service Center outreach teams to provide mental health and substance abuse treatment.
Despite the City’s efforts, homelessness in Long Beach has increased by 77 percent since 2017, and there are approximately 3,300 people experiencing homelessness any given day. Of the people experiencing homelessness in the city, more than 2,000 remain unsheltered, and there are few options for those currently without shelter. Homelessness also disproportionately impacts Black, Indigenous, and Pacific Islander residents who are approximately three times more likely to experience homelessness than other populations. Furthermore, the number of people experiencing homelessness with severe mental illness has more than doubled to 1,200 people, and those with a substance use disorder has increased by 70 percent to 950 people.
Homelessness is a regional challenge, and the City cannot end homelessness alone. We have established an emergency operations structure to prioritize our actions to reduce homelessness, and we will continue to work with our local, County, state, and federal partners to provide the necessary public services to meet the diverse needs of people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach. We will need your assistance to meet this emergency and direct resources to support these actions. We ask that you identify innovative ways your organization can support the City’s efforts to address homelessness and partner with us on this critical effort, such as expanding dial-a-lift transportation options for people experiencing homelessness to access services and shelter.
Thank you for your leadership, and we look forward to hearing how your organization can help.
Sincerely,
THOMAS B. MODICA
City Manager
Memorandum
Date: February 10, 2023
To: Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Thomas B. Modica, City Manager
Subject: Letter to Los Angeles County regarding the Homelessness Emergency
Following City Council’s approval of an emergency proclamation on homelessness on January 10, 2023, the City of Long Beach (City) has activated the Emergency Operations Center to dedicate staffing and resources to support the emergency. One of the key focus areas of the emergency response is an intergovernmental workgroup responsible for working with Los Angeles County officials and other government partners to ensure the City has the resources and support it needs to address homelessness.
As part of the intergovernmental workgroup’s early efforts to engage regional partners, the City has sent the attached letter to Los Angeles County leadership outlining key priorities for partnership. Included in the letter are the following requests:
• Strengthen coordination of emergency resources through direct coordination of emergency response activities and operations.
• Expand affordable housing and shelter through County support of a permanent winter shelter and the redevelopment of Carmelitos.
• Expand mental health resources in Long Beach by increasing local funding and access to residential mental health beds, step-down beds, and board and cares. • Make distribution of County homeless funding more equitable for Long Beach by addressing longstanding funding gaps in Measure H dollars and services and supporting the City’s Project Homekey operations.
• Collocate and streamline services with the City by dedicating County staff at the Multi-Service Center to support people from neighboring jurisdictions.
We have requested follow-up meetings with the County CEO and Chair Janice Hahn to identify ways to stre ngthen the County’s support of our emergency actions. W e will continue to provide updates on these requests.
ATTACHMENT
CC: DAWN MCINTOSH, CITY ATTORNEY
DOUGLAS P. HAUBERT, CITY PROSECUTOR
LAURA L. DOUD, CITY AUDITOR
LINDA F. TATUM, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
TERESA CHANDLER, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER
KATY NOMURA, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER
APRIL WALKER, ADMINISTRATIVE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER
KEVIN LEE, CHIEF PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER
MONIQUE DE LA GARZA, CITY CLERK
DEPARTMENT HEADS
562.570.6801 — [email protected] — @longbeachmayor
411 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, California 90802
January 31, 2023
Ms. Fesia Davenport
Chief Executive Officer
County of Los Angeles
500 W. Temple St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
RE: City of Long Beach’s Priorities Regarding the Emergency on Homelessness
Dear Ms. Davenport,
On behalf of the City of Long Beach, thank you for your leadership and commitment to addressing homelessness throughout Los Angeles County. Homelessness remains the most significant challenge of our time, and alongside the City and County of Los Angeles, Long Beach has also proclaimed an emergency on homelessness. We are committed to working with the County and neighboring jurisdictions to provide the resources needed to house people experiencing homelessness, and we would like to request County support in the key areas outlined below.
Strengthen coordination of emergency resources
The City has dedicated significant resources to address homelessness in Long Beach. We opened our first year-round bridge housing facility with 125 beds, secured three hotels along with the County, and recently purchased a 78-unit hotel and more than 30 modular shelter units. The City also implemented three Restorative Engagement to Achieve Collective Health (REACH) teams, increasing the number of outreach staff and call takers from four to 27, while expanding hours for weekend outreach. Nevertheless, the City continues to have approximately 3,300 people experiencing homelessness—a 77 percent increase since 2017.
Following the County and City’s declarations of emergency on homelessness, it is essential that we coordinate closely on our efforts. The City has set up an incident command structure to bring together the relevant staff and City leadership to expedite actions that will reduce homelessness. We request that the County assign staff from the Homeless Initiative, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention and Control to participate in our emergency operations, and likewise we ask that the City be able to join the County’s emergency command structure once it is established to ensure strong communication and alignment.
Expand opportunities for affordable housing and shelter in the region
Homelessness is a regional challenge, yet resources for housing and shelter are not equitably distributed throughout the County. While we have supported the development of 530 new interim housing units in Long Beach since 2020, there are only 40 shelter beds located in the City of Bell throughout the remaining Gateway Cities—where nearly 2,300 people experiencing homelessness
562.570.6801 — [email protected] — @longbeachmayor
411 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, California 90802
remain unsheltered. We request the County allocate resources for shelter space and place shelter units in areas of greatest need in the Gateway Cities, to more equitably distribute resources in the region. The County is uniquely positioned to facilitate better coordination between municipal jurisdictions and incentivize all cities, big and small, to step up and do their part in expanding shelter capacity and helping ameliorate our shared regional homelessness crisis.
Additionally, the Long Beach Winter Shelter at Community Hospital provides shelter, food, safety, and services during the coldest time of the year. The City continues to work diligently to tackle the issue of homelessness. To continue expanding capacity and enhancing service delivery to those most in need, we ask that the County purchase a permanent winter shelter in Long Beach to serve people experiencing homelessness.
Furthermore, despite the economic downturn due to the pandemic, the City has continued to advance housing, permitting more than 1,000 new units in 2021, of which more than half are Accessory Dwelling Units and affordable units. The City also developed inclusionary zoning and tenant assistance policies. We request the County to invest in redeveloping the Carmelitos Public Housing Development to provide more affordable housing opportunities, and we have identified strategic sites that could be strong candidates for affordable housing with County investment through the proposed Land Bank Pilot program. While the program is currently in development, we request that the County prioritize resources for sites in Long Beach. With resources from the Land Bank Pilot program, the City could continue to address the need for a regional approach to providing affordable housing.
Expand mental health resources in Long Beach
Based on the recent point-in-time count, roughly 31 percent of people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach are affected by a chronic health condition, 29 percent are affected by substance abuse, and 37 percent are affected by a serious mental illness. According to the 2022 point-in-time count, the number of people in Long Beach with severe mental illness has more than doubled to 1,200 people and those with a substance use disorder has increased by 70 percent to 950 people. Despite the overwhelming need for behavioral health resources, however, the County currently only has a few mental health residential beds available in Long Beach. We ask that the County increase resources and access to residential mental health beds, step-down beds, and board and cares.
In 2021, the City also began the process to localize mental health resources. Half of those experiencing homelessness in Long Beach need mental health support, and the trauma of experiencing homelessness can contribute to or exacerbate mental health conditions. Currently, the administration and location of mental health and substance use services falls under the County, rather than the City’s Health Department, creating a disconnected system of care for those needing mental health services. We ask that the County support localizing the delivery of mental health services in the City through increased funding for mental health providers, the expansion of wellness facilities, and the development of more recuperative care and step-down beds.
Make distribution of County homeless funding more equitable for Long Beach
The City currently receives an estimated $13.7 million in direct allocations and services that the
562.570.6801 — [email protected] — @longbeachmayor
411 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, California 90802
County provides through Measure H, including family support, youth services, permanent supportive housing, and other operational resources. Based on the City’s point-in-time count, however, Long Beach should be getting nearly 5% of the County’s Measure H dollars and services, or a total of more than $25 million. There is a gap of nearly $12 million in Measure H resources that Long Beach is not receiving to prevent and address homelessness. We request that the County do an assessment of current allocations and services in Long Beach and adjust its distribution of Measure H funding to more equitably focus on areas of greatest need in Long Beach. The City will also advocate for more equitable state funding to Long Beach and the region through the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program, and we would like to have the County’s support in this advocacy effort.
In addition, the City is thankful for the County’s collaboration with Project Homekey and other programs. We would like to continue partnering with the County to identify ongoing operational resources for Project Homekey sites in Long Beach. We also request Measure H funding to support safe parking sites in Long Beach and additional resources to purchase modular housing to be utilized in the long-term for permanent supportive housing.
Collocate and streamline services between the City and County
Another opportunity for the City and County to work together on the emergency is to bolster access to services. Daily visits to our Multi-Service Center have gone up by nearly 100 percent since 2020, and based on homeless count data, nearly half of individuals come from outside the City to seek services in Long Beach. With limited City resources, it is vital that the County provide a direct referral to their systems and transportation to services. We request that the County collocate resources at the Multi-Service Center to support people coming in from outside of Long Beach, in order to help them access the appropriate County resources.
Thank you for your leadership on this important matter. We look forward to strengthening our partnership to identify solutions to homelessness in the region and will follow up with a formal meeting request. If you have any questions, please contact Tyler Bonanno -Curley, Manager of Government, at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Mayor Rex Richardson
City of Long Beach
cc: Thomas B. Modica, City Manager, City of Long Beach
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
Dr. Lisa H. Wong, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Stephen Simon, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority
Cheri Todoroff, Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative
Dr. Gary Tsai, Los Angeles County Substance Abuse Prevention and Control
Memorandum
Date:
To:
From:
February 14, 2023
Mayor and Members of the City Council
Thomas B. Modica, City Manager
Subject: Letter to Los Angeles Metro regarding the Homelessness Emergency On October 4, 2022, the City Council moved to request Los Angeles Metro (Metro) evaluate its end of line policy requiring passengers to deboard when trains are taken out of service for cleaning. Since the City of Long Beach ’s (City) request, Director Janice Hahn and several of her colleagues on the LA Metro Board directed their staff to evaluate the end of line policy. LA Metro staff returned on January 26, 2023, with an initial review and status report. They conducted a survey of passengers deboarding the A Line in Downtown Long Beach at the end of service, and the team identified 234 unhoused riders offboarding over six evenings, an average of 39 riders a night. The survey further showed that there are riders who need services and housing support when Metro’s trains go out of service. Metro is continuing to analyze best practices to expand housing and services for unhoused riders in the late night and early morning hours and will continue to partner with local jurisdictions.
As a follow-up to the City’s initial request, the City has sent the attached letter to LA Metro leadership outlining the following priorities:
• Expand LA Metro’s Transit Ambassador Pilot Program to support people experiencing homelessness on the A Line throughout the time of service and as trains are taken out of service for cleaning.
• Support the development of overnight shelter capacity for passengers deboarding the train at the end of line, to help provide additional outreach and connection to homeless services.
We will continue to coordinate with LA Metro on these requests and their efforts to bolster resources for people experiencing homeles sness on Metro trains. We will continue to provide updates on these requests.
ATTACHMENT
CC: DAWN MCINTOSH, CITY ATTORNEY
DOUGLAS P. HAUBERT, CITY PROSECUTOR
LAURA L. DOUD, CITY AUDITOR
LINDA F. TATUM, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
TERESA CHANDLER, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER
KATY NOMURA, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER
APRIL WALKER, ADMINISTRATIVE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER
KEVIN LEE, CHIEF PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER
MONIQUE DE LA GARZA, CITY CLERK
DEPARTMENT HEADS
562.570.6801 — [email protected] — @longbeachmayor
411 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, California 90802
January 31, 2023
Los Angeles Metro Board of Directors
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012
RE: Expanding Los Angeles Metro’s Transit Ambassador Pilot Program and Shelter Capacity
Dear Chair Najarian and Board Members,
On January 10, 2023, the City of Long Beach declared an emergency on homelessness. As part of our efforts to alleviate homelessness in the region, we request that LA Metro expand its Transit Ambassador Pilot Program and support the development of a localized emergency shelter for passengers deboarding the train at the end of line, providing additional outreach and connection to services for Metro riders on the A Line.
Last year, Long Beach requested LA Metro evaluate its end of line policy requiring passengers to deboard when trains are taken out of service for cleaning, and we appreciate your leadership to identify additional funding, services, shelter, and other solutions to address the regional challenge of homelessness.
As part of the City’s contract with LA Metro, the Long Beach Police Department deploys two Quality of Life officers focused on connecting people experiencing homelessness to social services. The City is exploring the feasibility of changing the schedules of our Quality of Life officers to provide additional resources at the end of the A Line service each day. The City also recently expanded the Restorative Engagement to Achieve Collective Health (REACH) team to help connect the unhoused population to critical services such as shelter and mental healthcare.
Expanding LA Metro’s Transit Ambassador Pilot Program and overnight shelter capacity and access to homeless services at the end of line will help strengthen the City’s local efforts to provide resources for A Line passengers.
While the ambassador program is currently only available for limited hours, we request that ambassadors be deployed in Long Beach on the A Line throughout the time of service. Furthermore, having overnight shelter capacity for passengers to sleep and access services is vital to ensure passengers connect with the local resources they need.
Thank you for your consideration to expand the Transit Ambassador Pilot Program and provide shelter capacity at the end of line. If you have any questions about our request, please contact Tyler Bonanno-Curley, Manager of Government Affairs, at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Mayor Rex Richardson
City of Long Beach
cc: Thomas B. Modica, City Manager, City of Long Beach
Stephanie Wiggins, CEO
Gina Osborn, Chief Safety Officer
CITY OF
LONG BEACH
Date: February 13, 2023
To: Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Thomas B. Modica, City Manager-]:�.
Memorandum
Subject: Letter to City Partners regarding the Homelessness Emergency The City of Long Beach (City) has allocated significant resources and staffing to address the homelessness emergency. As part of the intergovernmental workgroup's initial actions, the City has submitted formal requests of regional government partners to support additional resources and services in Long Beach. Additionally, the City has sent the attached letters to both the Port of Long Beach and the Long Beach Utilities Department seeking their support in addressing homelessness through actions such as identifying land for housing and shelter, staffing that can assist with the emergency response, and any other innovative ways that their departments can assist the City's activities.
The Port and Utilities Department have dedicated staffing to the City's Emergency Operations Center and are working to identify additional resources to advance the emergency response. We will continue to provide updates on these requests.
ATTACHMENT
CC: DAWN MCINTOSH, CITY ATTORNEY
DOUGLAS P. HAUBERT, CITY PROSECUTOR
LAURAL. DOUD, CITY AUDITOR
LINOA F. TATUM, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
TERESA CHANDLER, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER
KATY NOMURA, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER
APRIL WALKER, ADMINISTRATIVE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER
KEVIN LEE, CHIEF PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER
MONIQUE DE LA GARZA, CITY CLERK
DEPARTMENT HEADS
2/15/23, 12:53 PM Long Beach City Council Approves Allocation of $13 Million in One-Time Funds to Support Homelessness Emergency Response https://longbeach.gov/press-releases/long-beach-city-council-approves-allocation-of--$13-million-in-one-time-funds-to-support-homelessness-emergency-response/ 1/2
PRESS RELEASE
City of Long Beach
Public Information Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd,
Long Beach, CA 90802
Press Release # 020923-3
2/9/2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Long Beach, CA – At the Feb. 7, 2023, meeting, the Long Beach City Council approved with a 6 to 3 vote the allocation of $13 million in one-time funds from Fiscal Year 2022 year-end results, to support the City’s emergency response to homelessness and various associated priority projects across multiple departments.
"This additional funding will allow us to expand existing services and implement new initiatives to further support our unhoused residents, connect them with necessary services and pathways to permanent housing,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “We are dedicated to going ‘all in.’ I thank the City Council for their support of this funding.”
The action comes as a result of a presentation by the Department of Financial Management regarding the Fiscal Year 2022 Year-End Budget Performance Report and the recommendation to increase appropriations in several funds across several departments.
Council-approved uses of these one-time funds include:
$5.2 million in additional budgetary General Funds to support the City’s homelessness emergency response, including but not limited to programs, cleanups, staffing, equipment, sheltering and other efforts.
$2 million in additional budgetary Tidelands Funds allotted tothe Department of Public Worksto support homelessness related response projects within the Tidelands areas. $4 million from Measure A surplus funds allotted to the Department of Public Works to support homelessness related infrastructure projects, including improving or creating shelter space and other related projects.
Long Beach City Council Approves Allocation of $13 Million in One-Time Funds to Support Homelessness Emergency Response
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2/15/23, 12:53 PM Long Beach City Council Approves Allocation of $13 Million in One-Time Funds to Support Homelessness Emergency Response https://longbeach.gov/press-releases/long-beach-city-council-approves-allocation-of--$13-million-in-one-time-funds-to-support-homelessness-emergency-response/ 2/2 $1.8 million from Measure A surplus funds to complete the design and completely rehabilitate an existing building for the Health Department's Navigation Center for people experiencing homelessness.
Further details on the specific projects that will utilize the above funding will shared, once determined.
For more information on the City’s efforts to reduce homelessness in Long Beach, people may visit longbeach.gov/homelessness and follow @lbhealthdept and @longbeachcity on social media and follow the hashtag #EveryoneHomeLB.
For more news, pictures, videos and announcements of what’s happening in Long Beach, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
2/15/23, 12:54 PM City of Long Beach Shares Resources Available to Community for Addressing Issues Related to Homelessness https://longbeach.gov/press-releases/city-of-long-beach-shares-resources-available-to-community-for-addressing-issues-related-to-homelessness/ 1/3
PRESS RELEASE
City of Long Beach
Public Information Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd,
Long Beach, CA 90802
Press Release # 020923-4
2/9/2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The City’s stated mission is to reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach by increasing housing opportunities, enhancing current initiatives and addressing and improving overall public safety for the entire community. The City has an active Interdepartmental Team that works together to develop solutions, create procedures and protocols for street teams and address issues related to community members experiencing homelessness.
Connecting people to the right service is critical to ensure positive outcomes for the entire community. Resources regarding who to call, and when, are listed below.
What should I do if someone is asking for help?
If a person is asking for help and it is a health or safety emergency, let them know that you can call 9-1-1 on their behalf. If possible, remain with the person and provide comfort until response arrives.
If it is not an emergency, engage the person in conversation. If the person tells you they are experiencing homelessness, encourage them to reach out for assistance by visiting the Multi- Service Center (MSC), located at 1301 W. 12th St., or by calling 562.570.4500 or emailing [email protected]. You can also request outreach staff on the person’s behalf at 562.570.4672 (4MSC).
What should I do if someone appears to need medical or mental health support? If you see someone who is unresponsive or appears to be having a medical or mental health crisis and needs immediate help, call 9-1-1. Observe the situation and provide 9-1-1 dispatch with relevant information.
City of Long Beach Shares Resources Available to Community for Addressing Issues Related to Homelessness
City of Long Beach Joint Information Center
562.570.NEWS
[email protected]
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2/15/23, 12:54 PM City of Long Beach Shares Resources Available to Community for Addressing Issues Related to Homelessness https://longbeach.gov/press-releases/city-of-long-beach-shares-resources-available-to-community-for-addressing-issues-related-to-homelessness/ 2/3 If the person is not in an immediate crisis or emergency, request the City’s specialized Restorative Engagement to Achieve Collective Health (REACH) teams at 562.570.4MSC. REACH teams consist of a mental health clinician, public health nurse and outreach worker who can come and provide assessments and linkages to care. REACH teams operate weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with expected expansion into weekends when additional staffing is secured.
What do I do if someone is on my property?
If any person is trespassing on your property, call the City’s non-emergency phone tree at 562.435.6711 or 9-1-1 for emergencies.
What should I do if someone is blocking the entrance to my business or causing a disruption?
If a person is blocking your ability to open or enter the business, inform them that you are trying to enter and ask them to vacate the space. If they refuse, you can call the City’s non-emergency phone tree at 562.435.6711. If the person has been sleeping in front of your business for multiple nights, request outreach services through [email protected] or by calling 562.570.4MSC.
If a person is in mental distress or causing a disruption, ask the person if they need emergency services. If they do not respond, ask them to leave. If they refuse, inform them you are calling the Police Department and call 9-1-1.
If I see an encampment, should I contact someone about it? If you see a new encampment, report it through [email protected] or by calling 562.570.4MSC. This will allow outreach staff to come out and engage people for services. If the encampment has been there for a while, it is likely that outreach staff are already aware, but you can you still report it to ensure outreach is being conducted.
If you are worried about excess trash or waste in encampments, use the Go Long Beach app to report illegal dumping.
What should I do if I witness a crime by or against someone who appears to be experiencing homelessness?
If you witness any person committing a criminal act, report any suspicious activity by calling the City’s non-emergency phone tree at 562.435.6711 or 9-1-1 for emergencies.
Homelessness does not define someone and is not a crime. Community members experiencing homelessness are also brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, friends and even coworkers. With the support and expertise of trained professionals, community-based organizations and community members, we can help people achieve permanent housing with the tools and resources needed to continue in housing for years to come.
Outreach is a vital part of the City’s homelessness response efforts, allowing staff to meet people where they are, build relationships and inform people of resources available. In the past year, the Health Department’s Homeless Services Bureau outreach teams responded to 2,050 requests for outreach and engaged with more than 2,858 people. Of those, 69 people with significant mental health and physical health care needs were enrolled in ongoing services through REACH. 2/15/23, 12:54 PM City of Long Beach Shares Resources Available to Community for Addressing Issues Related to Homelessness https://longbeach.gov/press-releases/city-of-long-beach-shares-resources-available-to-community-for-addressing-issues-related-to-homelessness/ 3/3 For more information on the City’s efforts to reduce homelessness in Long Beach, people may visit longbeach.gov/homelessness and follow @lbhealthdept and @longbeachcity on social media and follow the hashtag #EveryoneHomeLB.
Media inquiries may be directed to the City of Long Beach Joint Information Center at 562.570.NEWS or [email protected].
For more news, pictures, videos and announcements of what’s happening in Long Beach, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
2/15/23, 12:54 PM City of Long Beach Selects Firm to Design and Build Tiny Homes for People Experiencing Homelessness https://longbeach.gov/press-releases/city-of-long-beach-selects-firm-to-design-and-build-tiny-homes-for-people-experiencing-homelessness/ 1/2
PRESS RELEASE
City of Long Beach
Public Information Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd,
Long Beach, CA 90802
Press Release # 020923-2
2/9/2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Long Beach, CA - On Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, the Long Beach City Council approved, with a 9 to 0 vote, the awarding of a contract to Los Angeles-based firm, Connect Homes, for the design, manufacturing, delivery and installation of 30 to 35 modular non-congregate shelter units (Tiny Homes) to safely house people experiencing homelessness. “These Tiny Homes are integral to the City’s commitment to shelter our residents who are experiencing homelessness,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “These homes will provide comfort, services and hope to people who can use the assistance during their pathway to permanent housing.”
In late October 2022, the City advertised a Request for Proposal (RFP) soliciting prospective manufactured home building firms to submit their proposed bids for the design and manufacturing of the Tiny Homes. The selection committee determined Connect Homes to be the most qualified firm to provide the services as they best met the issued criteria, which included reasonableness of costs, experience in performance of comparable engagements, and expertise and availability of key personnel.
These Tiny Homes will be installed in a lot at the City’s Multi Service Center (MSC) located at 1301 W. 12th Street to provide interim or temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach. Following installation, the City will be responsible for annual operating and programming costs, which are estimated at $930,818 per year. Ongoing costs will include utilities, maintenance, food and staffing.
Each single occupancy modular unit will be approximately 100 square feet, with its own bed, restroom and shower, lighting, HVAC and storage. They will also include a fire suppression system.
City of Long Beach Selects Firm to Design and Build Tiny Homes for People Experiencing Homelessness
City of Long Beach Joint Information Center
562.570.NEWS
[email protected]
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2/15/23, 12:54 PM City of Long Beach Selects Firm to Design and Build Tiny Homes for People Experiencing Homelessness https://longbeach.gov/press-releases/city-of-long-beach-selects-firm-to-design-and-build-tiny-homes-for-people-experiencing-homelessness/ 2/2 Three meals will also be provided daily on site. The program will serve people who are experiencing chronic homelessness and will focus on connecting participants to permanent housing opportunities as quickly as possible. Program participants will be referred through the MSC.
“I am pleased that the seventh Council District has stepped up time and again to support the City’s efforts to end homelessness,” said Seventh District Councilmember Roberto Uranga. “These homes will take members of our community off the streets and into housing, providing them with much needed respite and critical services.”
The contract with Connect Homes will be for $2,318,419 with a 10% contingency in the amount of $231,842, for a total amount not to exceed $2,550,261 for a period of two years, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods.
The funds used for this effort stem from the Project Homekey Grant, which was awarded to the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) by The State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in August 2022.
For more information on the City’s efforts to reduce homelessness in Long Beach, people may visit longbeach.gov/homelessness and follow @lbhealthdept and @longbeachcity on social media and follow the hashtag #EveryoneHomeLB.
For more news, pictures, videos and announcements of what’s happening in Long Beach, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Memorandum
Date: February 9, 2023
To: Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Thomas B. Modica, City Manager
Subject: Letter to Educational Partners regarding the Homelessness Emergency
Homelessness is a challenge that the City of Long Beach (City) cannot address alone.
As part of the City’s emergency actions, the City has continued to engage with regional and local partners to seek their assistance in the effort to house and provide vital resources for people experiencing homelessness. In addition to governmental and transportation partners, the City has also sent the attached letters to local educational institutions requesting their support of the City’s emergency response.
In particular, as part of the Mayor’s 100 -day plan, the City is interested in ways that our educational partners can advance the Long Beach Housing Promise to invest in housing production and leverage surplus properties and fac ilities to add to our existing housing stock—a much-needed solution to keeping children and families in Long Beach and in our school system.
We will continue to provide updates on these requests to develop the Long Beach Housing Promise as part of the emergency response on homelessness.
ATTACHMENT
CC: D AWN MCINTOSH, CITY ATTORNEY
D OUGLAS P. HAUBERT, CITY PROSECUTOR
L AURA L. DOUD, CITY AUDITOR
LINDA F. TATUM, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
T ERESA CHANDLER, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER
KATY NOMURA, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER
APRIL WALKER, ADMINISTRATIVE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER
MEREDITH REYNOLDS, SPECIAL DEPUTY CITY MANAGER FOR RECOVERY
KEVIN LEE, CHIEF PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER
MONIQUE DE LA GARZA, CITY CLERK
DEPARTMENT HEADS
562.570.6801 — [email protected] — @longbeachmayor
411 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, California 90802
January 31, 2023
Dr. Jill Baker
Superintendent of Schools
Long Beach Unified School District
1515 Hughes Way
Long Beach, CA 90810
RE: Partnership to Address the Homelessness Emergency in Long Beach
Dear Dr. Baker,
On January 10, 2023, the City of Long Beach declared an emergency on homelessness, and we request your support and partnership in addressing the homelessness emergency in Long Beach by joining the Long Beach Housing Promise to advance the production of accessible housing.
The City has designated significant resources to address homelessness, adding more than 530 new interim housing units, opening the first year-round bridge housing facility, securing three hotels along with the County for interim housing, and purchasing another 78-bed hotel and more than 30 modular shelter units. The City implemented three Restorative Engagement to Achieve Collective Health (REACH) teams, increasing the number of outreach staff and call takers from four to 27, and expanding hours for weekend outreach. We are also launching mobile Multi-Service Center outreach teams to provide mental health and substance abuse treatment.
Despite the City’s efforts, homelessness in Long Beach has increased by 77 percent since 2017, and there are approximately 3,300 people experiencing homelessness any given day. Of the people experiencing homelessness in the City, more than 2,000 remain unsheltered, and there are few options for those currently without shelter. Homelessness also disproportionately impacts Black, Indigenous, and Pacific Islander residents who are approximately three times more likely to experience homelessness than other populations. Furthermore, the number of people experiencing homelessness with severe mental illness has more than doubled to 1,200 people, and those with a substance use disorder has increased by 70 percent to 950 people.
Homelessness is a regional challenge, and the City cannot end homelessness alone. We have established an emergency operations structure to prioritize our actions to reduce homelessness, and we will continue to work with our local, County, state, and federal partners to provide the necessary public services to meet the diverse needs of people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach. We will need your assistance to meet this emergency and direct resources to support these actions. As we know, the most impactful way to prevent and end homelessness is by ensuring affordable and accessible housing for our residents. We ask that you identify innovative ways your organization can support the City’s efforts to address homelessness and partner with us on this critical effort to expand housing opportunities in Long Beach.
562.570.6801 — [email protected] — @longbeachmayor
411 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, California 90802
Through the Long Beach Housing Promise, we will work to create housing that Long Beach families deserve, and we need your organization to invest in housing production and leverage surplus properties and facilities to help add to our existing housing stock. The partnerships created through the Long Beach Housing Promise will ensure that Long Beach’s children and families are provided better educational outcomes, economic opportunities, and a lasting community where everyone thrives. Establishing more affordable housing in Long Beach can help ensure there are sufficient housing opportunities to support our public school families, our students, and to keep our workforce local.
Thank you for your leadership on this critical matter, and we look forward to partnering with your organization to formalize the Long Beach Housing Promise. If you have any questions, please contact Tyler Bonanno-Curley, Manager of Government Affairs, at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Mayor Rex Richardson
City of Long Beach
cc: Thomas B. Modica, City Manager, City of Long Beach
562.570.6801 — [email protected] — @longbeachmayor
411 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, California 90802
January 31, 2023
Dr. Jane Conoley
President
California State University, Long Beach
Brotman Hall BH–300
1250 Bellflower Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90840
RE: Partnership to Address the Homelessness Emergency in Long Beach
Dear Dr. Conoley,
On January 10, 2023, the City of Long Beach declared an emergency on homelessness, and we request your support and partnership in addressing the homelessness emergency in Long Beach by joining the Long Beach Housing Promise to advance the production of accessible housing.
The City has designated significant resources to address homelessness, adding more than 530 new interim housing units, opening the first year-round bridge housing facility, securing three hotels along with the County for interim housing, and purchasing another 78-bed hotel and more than 30 modular shelter units. The City implemented three Restorative Engagement to Achieve Collective Health (REACH) teams, increasing the number of outreach staff and call takers from four to 27, and expanding hours for weekend outreach. We are also launching mobile Multi-Service Center outreach teams to provide mental health and substance abuse treatment.
Despite the City’s efforts, homelessness in Long Beach has increased by 77 percent since 2017, and there are approximately 3,300 people experiencing homelessness any given day. Of the people experiencing homelessness in the City, more than 2,000 remain unsheltered, and there are few options for those currently without shelter. Homelessness also disproportionately impacts Black, Indigenous, and Pacific Islander residents who are approximately three times more likely to experience homelessness than other populations. Furthermore, the number of people experiencing homelessness with severe mental illness has more than doubled to 1,200 people, and those with a substance use disorder has increased by 70 percent to 950 people.
Homelessness is a regional challenge, and the City cannot end homelessness alone. We have established an emergency operations structure to prioritize our actions to reduce homelessness, and we will continue to work with our local, County, state, and federal partners to provide the necessary public services to meet the diverse needs of people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach. We will need your assistance to meet this emergency and direct resources to support these actions. As we know, the most impactful way to prevent and end homelessness is by ensuring affordable and accessible housing for our residents. We ask that you identify innovative ways your organization can support the City’s efforts to address homelessness and partner with us on this critical effort to expand housing opportunities in Long Beach.
562.570.6801 — [email protected] — @longbeachmayor
411 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, California 90802
Through the Long Beach Housing Promise, we will work to create housing that Long Beach families deserve, and we need your organization to invest in housing production and leverage surplus properties and facilities to help add to our existing housing stock. The partnerships created through the Long Beach Housing Promise will ensure that Long Beach’s children and families are provided better educational outcomes, economic opportunities, and a lasting community where everyone thrives. Establishing more affordable housing in Long Beach can help ensure there are sufficient housing opportunities to support our public school families, our students, and to keep our workforce local.
Thank you for your leadership on this critical matter, and we look forward to partnering with your organization to formalize the Long Beach Housing Promise. If you have any questions, please contact Tyler Bonanno-Curley, Manager of Government Affairs, at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Mayor Rex Richardson
City of Long Beach
cc: Thomas B. Modica, City Manager, City of Long Beach
562.570.6801 — [email protected] — @longbeachmayor
411 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, California 90802
January 31, 2023
Dr. Mike Muñoz
Superintendent-President
Long Beach City College
4901 East Carson St.
Long Beach, CA 90808
RE: Partnership to Address the Homelessness Emergency in Long Beach
Dear Dr. Muñoz,
On January 10, 2023, the City of Long Beach declared an emergency on homelessness, and we request your support and partnership in addressing the homelessness emergency in Long Beach by joining the Long Beach Housing Promise to advance the production of accessible housing.
The City has designated significant resources to address homelessness, adding more than 530 new interim housing units, opening the first year-round bridge housing facility, securing three hotels along with the County for interim housing, and purchasing another 78-bed hotel and more than 30 modular shelter units. The City implemented three Restorative Engagement to Achieve Collective Health (REACH) teams, increasing the number of outreach staff and call takers from four to 27, and expanding hours for weekend outreach. We are also launching mobile Multi-Service Center outreach teams to provide mental health and substance abuse treatment.
Despite the City’s efforts, homelessness in Long Beach has increased by 77 percent since 2017, and there are approximately 3,300 people experiencing homelessness any given day. Of the people experiencing homelessness in the City, more than 2,000 remain unsheltered, and there are few options for those currently without shelter. Homelessness also disproportionately impacts Black, Indigenous, and Pacific Islander residents who are approximately three times more likely to experience homelessness than other populations. Furthermore, the number of people experiencing homelessness with severe mental illness has more than doubled to 1,200 people, and those with a substance use disorder has increased by 70 percent to 950 people.
Homelessness is a regional challenge, and the City cannot end homelessness alone. We have established an emergency operations structure to prioritize our actions to reduce homelessness, and we will continue to work with our local, County, state, and federal partners to provide the necessary public services to meet the diverse needs of people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach. We will need your assistance to meet this emergency and direct resources to support these actions. As we know, the most impactful way to prevent and end homelessness is by ensuring affordable and accessible housing for our residents. We ask that you identify innovative ways your organization can support the City’s efforts to address homelessness and partner with us on this critical effort to expand housing opportunities in Long Beach.
562.570.6801 — [email protected] — @longbeachmayor
411 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, California 90802
Through the Long Beach Housing Promise, we will work to create housing that Long Beach families deserve, and we need your organization to invest in housing production and leverage surplus properties and facilities to help add to our existing housing stock. The partnerships created through the Long Beach Housing Promise will ensure that Long Beach’s children and families are provided better educational outcomes, economic opportunities, and a lasting community where everyone thrives. Establishing more affordable housing in Long Beach can help ensure there are sufficient housing opportunities to support our public school families, our students, and to keep our workforce local.
Thank you for your leadership on this critical matter, and we look forward to partnering with your organization to formalize the Long Beach Housing Promise. If you have any questions, please contact Tyler Bonanno-Curley, Manager of Government Affairs, at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Mayor Rex Richardson
City of Long Beach
cc: Thomas B. Modica, City Manager, City of Long Beach
2/15/23, 12:54 PM City of Long Beach to Provide Sanitation and Water Filling Services to People Living in Recreational Vehicles https://longbeach.gov/press-releases/city-of-long-beach-to-provide-sanitation-and-water-filling-services-to-people-living-in-recreational-vehicles/ 1/2
PRESS RELEASE
City of Long Beach
Public Information Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd,
Long Beach, CA 90802
Press Release # 020323
2/3/2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach will offer a new space that provides people experiencing homelessness and currently living in recreational vehicles (RVs) with sanitation and water-filling services. A Revocable Facility Use permit approval for the new site was authorized by the Board of Utilities Commissioners during the Thursday, Feb. 2 meeting, and approved with a 4 to 0 vote. “Promoting the health and safety of people in our city experiencing homelessness is crucial to addressing this crisis,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “By providing access to proper sanitation and water services, we are offering a vital resource to our community members living in RVs.” This site, located at St. Louis Avenue and 32nd Street, will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will provide services to people who have received a referral from the Multi-Service Center (MSC). It will offer two or three sanitation dump stations, allowing people living in RVs to properly dispose their sewage, as well as provide access to water filling stations. The location will also provide on- site staffing, consisting of an attendant who will assist visitors with services and a security guard.
Construction will take approximately two to three weeks to complete, which will begin once site materials and equipment are received.
“It is essential that we provide spaces where we can connect people in our community who are experiencing homelessness with the services they need,” said Fifth District Councilwoman Megan Kerr. “This site will be an important asset in ensuring people living in RVs have a place to meet their sanitation needs, which will benefit our entire community.” This site will not be open to the general public. People experiencing homelessness and living in RVs who are interested in using these services must first receive a referral from the MSC, located at 1301 W. 12th St. No overnight parking will be offered. In addition to the sanitation dumping and City of Long Beach to Provide Sanitation and Water Filling Services to People Living in Recreational Vehicles
City of Long Beach Joint Information Center
562.570.NEWS
[email protected]
Select Language
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2/15/23, 12:54 PM City of Long Beach to Provide Sanitation and Water Filling Services to People Living in Recreational Vehicles https://longbeach.gov/press-releases/city-of-long-beach-to-provide-sanitation-and-water-filling-services-to-people-living-in-recreational-vehicles/ 2/2 water filling stations currently offered, portable showers will be added to the site in the coming months.
“In Long Beach, we are a family. Many of us have lived here for years and raised our children here.
The homelessness crisis reminds us that not all members of our family are always in the same place at the same time,” said Gloria Cordero, president of the Board of Utilities Commissioners. “I want to thank the Commission for joining me in supporting the city’s homelessness initiative to address the crisis our community is facing.”
For more information on the City’s efforts to reduce homelessness in Long Beach, people may visit longbeach.gov/homelessness and follow @lbhealthdept and @longbeachcity on social media and follow the hashtag #EveryoneHomeLB.
For more news, pictures, videos and announcements of what’s happening in Long Beach, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
2/16/23, 6:10 PM Additional Winter Shelter Doubling City's Capacity to Open in West Long Beach in February https://longbeach.gov/press-releases/additional-winter-shelter-doubling-citys-capacity-to-open-in-west-long-beach-in-february/ 1/3
PRESS RELEASE
City of Long Beach
Public Information Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd,
Long Beach, CA 90802
Press Release # 020323
2/3/2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Additional Winter Shelter Doubling City's Capacity to Open in West Long Beach in February First Time City Opens Two Winter Shelters
City of Long Beach Joint Information Center
562.570.NEWS
[email protected]
Select Language
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2/16/23, 6:10 PM Additional Winter Shelter Doubling City's Capacity to Open in West Long Beach in February https://longbeach.gov/press-releases/additional-winter-shelter-doubling-citys-capacity-to-open-in-west-long-beach-in-february/ 2/3 The City of Long Beach will open an additional Winter Shelter in February in an effort to increase access to critical shelter and resources for people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach. The new Winter Shelter will open at Silverado Park in West Long Beach and will operate in partnership with Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) and First to Serve Outreach Ministries, the nonprofit that currently also operates the City’s other Winter Shelter in East Long Beach, which opened in December 2022.
“By opening an additional Winter Shelter in Long Beach, we are increasing our reach and providing more people with critical access to shelter, food and resources during these cold and rainy months,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “We are working to combine our response efforts by increasing points of entry, making it easier for people to access the shelter.” The new Winter Shelter at Silverado Park, which will be located in the gym, will serve 84 people and operate 24 hours per day through May 29, 2023. It will provide protection from inclement weather, housing-focused case management, screening for housing programs, referrals to year-round shelter programs, three meals per day, on-site showers and restrooms and various activities to increase engagement.
Shelter participants will be able to access the Winter Shelter via the Winter Shelter bus, which will make daily pick-ups at the Long Beach Multi-Service Center (MSC), located at 1301 W. 12th St., in the early evening and provide transportation back to the MSC in the mornings. The new Mobile Access Center will also serve as a point of entry, with connections to transportation services 2/16/23, 6:10 PM Additional Winter Shelter Doubling City's Capacity to Open in West Long Beach in February https://longbeach.gov/press-releases/additional-winter-shelter-doubling-citys-capacity-to-open-in-west-long-beach-in-february/ 3/3 available for those needing to reach the MSC. People will not be able to walk up to the shelter site for services. For the safety of shelter participants and the community, security will be on site 24/7. “I am pleased to host an additional emergency shelter here in the Seventh District to support our unhoused residents,” said Seventh District Councilman Roberto Uranga. “Silverado was a safe and successful site during the peak of the pandemic that offered shelter to many people experiencing homelessness and I know it will contribute greatly once again as part of our critical emergency response efforts.”
In 2020, Silverado Park was utilized as a temporary shelter and was instrumental in addressing the unprecedented impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and in supporting people in the community experiencing homelessness, offering critical services and resources to approximately 50 people per day.
The Long Beach Winter Shelters shield people experiencing homelessness from inclement weather and provide shelter, food, safety and services during the coldest time of the year. In addition to the Winter Shelters, the City and its partners operate 1,301 beds year-round. For more information about the Winter Shelter, people can call the Multi-Service Center at 562.570.4500 or review the FAQs.
For more information on the City’s efforts to reduce homelessness in Long Beach, people may visit longbeach.gov/homelessness and follow @lbhealthdept and @longbeachcity on social media and follow the hashtag #EveryoneHomeLB.
For more news, pictures, videos and announcements of what’s happening in Long Beach, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
REQUEST TO ADD AGENDA ITEM
Date: February 17, 2023
To: Monique De La Garza, City Clerk
From: Thomas B. Modica, City Manager
Subject: Request to Add Agenda Item to Council Agenda of February 21, 2023
Pursuant to Municipal Cod e Section 2.03.070 [B], the City Councilmembers signing below request that the attached agenda item (due in the City Clerk Department by Friday, 12:00 Noon) be placed on the City Council agenda via the supplemental agenda.
The agenda title/recommendation for this item reads as follows:
Continue the local emergency caused by conditions or threatened conditions of homelessness within the City of Long Beach, which if not corrected, constitute an imminent and proximate threat to the safety of persons and pro perty within the City; and,
Receive and file an update on the emergency declaration and associated activities and provide any additional direction to City staff regarding the emergency. (Citywide)
Council District Authorizing Councilmember Signed by
1 Mary Zendejas (Digital – attached email)
3 Kristina Duggan (Digital – attached email)
5 Megan Kerr (Digital – attached email